Most people would jump at a chance to say they knew someone famous before they got “big.”

Anyone who attends the dinner show at the Gig Harbor Eagles on Dec. 10 may have that opportunity if the show’s young star has her way.

Faith Higgins was bit by the acting bug when she was 13 as she was cast in Encore Theater’s “Aladdin the Musical.” Now she has her future sights set on Broadway.

And if her life for the past seven years is any indication of her motivation, there’s no stopping her.

The Saturday night dinner show, “Holiday Lights — Broadway Nights,” will help with the looming college tuition students now face. After the long process of applying to the top arts schools in the country, Higgins was accepted at the University of Arts in Philadelphia, where she received a presidential scholarship for talent and academics, a university grant and a Dean’s grant.

In fact, she was accepted at four out of the five arts schools she applied to ­— schools that accept only about 30 new students a year.

“It cost about $2,000 just for the application process,” Higgins said. “Then you have to buy all the clothes. I had to look like I had the money to go there.”

Higgins has red hair, green eyes and skin like porcelain. She is down-to-earth and charming at the same time, and presents herself like someone twice her age.

And she has class.

The girl from the Key Peninsula has completely sidestepped the Hollywood scene. Instead, she’s heading for the East Coast theater world — to the nitty gritty, astoundingly competitive big-city life where true talent is the name of the game.

On a recent trip to Philadelphia, Higgins said she was “blown away” by the talent level at her future school.

“Everyone is good there,” she said. “Then they tear you apart and expect you to be better. And you get even better.”

Higgins and her mother, Julie, have chosen to defer her college start date for another year.

“I am so not ready yet,” Faith said.

In the meantime, Faith continues to hone her craft and has become well-known in local thespian circles. She was involved in the drama club every year she attended Peninsula High School and sang in both the jazz band and the chamber choir. She credits Christina Kowalski, the soprano voice teacher at the University of Puget Sound, for her training.

Faith won the first Gig Harbor “Star Search” event and grabbed first place in the adult age category for “Key’s Got Talent” at Volunteer Park. She was involved in two professional productions with the Lyric Light Opera on Camano Island.

“It was really fun ’cause they had to house me up there,” Faith said. “Being on my own was a good growing experience.”

She has won awards for her performances with the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle, including the best supporting actress award in 2007 and ’08, and best actress in ’09.

“They have a really awesome program for high school musicals,” Julie said. “It’s like the Tonys. The productions they put on are really spectacular.”

Faith’s friend, Bryan Gula, a student at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma, wrote a full musical, “Falling Back,” with Faith in mind as the lead actress. The music was recorded at Seattle’s Studio X and is scheduled to premier in May at Charles Wright.

One of Faith’s most memorable experiences was leading the production of “Seussical the Musical,” in collaboration with the Two Waters Arts Alliance on the Key Peninsula. She directed more than 600 elementary school students.

“They were mostly fifth-graders,” she said. “We rehearsed for two months and performed the night before school closed. It was pretty crazy.”

It was that experience which sparked another future dream for Faith — to open her own acting school for children.

“The most rewarding thing is, you see these kids that have no idea how good they are,” she said. “Some of them are at the level of the 5th Avenue Theater or Broadway. I know when they act, that seed’s been planted.”

After the production, Faith emailed the young actors and told them she hoped they would pursue acting and get to be on Broadway some day.

But for now, Faith is focusing on taking the steps she needs to take to get to the big stage herself, and she has a group of steady supporters to help her on the road to success.

Julie hand-makes Faith’s costumes and clothing, and Nancy Ramsey, secretary for the Eagles Auxiliary, is overseeing the show.

“Our motto is ‘People helping people,’ ” Ramsey said. “It will be a pretty show. The club will be all decorated for Christmas. The Eagles will provide a full-course, sit-down meal with the entertainment for $15, followed by a dessert auction.”

Faith will be joined by two guest performers, Travis Olson, a former Gig Harbor High School student, and Krista Curry, Faith’s good friend and student at UPS.

“This whole concert is a miracle,” Faith said. “This whole thing wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Nancy.”

Anyone who wants to help Faith can donate to “Funds for Faith,” 4425 Burnham Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98332.



Lifestyles Coordinator and reporter Susan Schell can be reached at 253-853-9240 or by email at susan.schell@gateline.com.